Large majority of Irish believe gay couples should be allowed marry

A new poll has found that 73 percent of people in Ireland are in favor of gay marriage, the highest number ever.

Of the nearly three-quarters of those in favor, 53 percent agree strongly with the idea. A total of 14 percent strongly disagreed, while 8 percent slightly disagreed.

The Sunday Times/Red C poll found that women were 16 percent more likely than men to agree that gay couples should be allowed to marry, and that three in five people that gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.

The new government has promised to take up the issue of gay marriage in its new program for government.

There are two openly gay members of parliament in the new legislature.